Restrictions on bouncers unlikely, cricket should not overreact: ICC chief executive David Richardson

David Richardson 

David Richardson, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has said that changes to bouncer-related rules are unlikely to be introduced and that the game should not blow the Phillip Hughes-incident out of proportion. 

Hughes died at St. Vincent’s Hospital on Thursday after being hit on his head by a bouncer from fast bowler Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on November 25. 

Calls for restrictions to be imposed on the number of bouncers that can be bowled have started to surface. Currently, a bowler can bowl two bouncers per over in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20s, while there are no restrictions in the longer format of the game. 

Speaking to BBC Radio Five, Richardson said: "We need to try and keep our perspective," 

On if we could expect any modifications to be made to the existing set of rules, the 55-year-old former South African wicketkeeper-batsman said: "It's a bit early to determine, but my initial reaction is that it's unlikely.

"People have died by being struck on the heart before. I don't think cricket needs to over-react, but do what we can."